What pops into your head if I suggested you buy an electric car? For most people, it conjures up a host of stereotypes.

Electric cars are thought to be either unreasonably expensive, like Teslas; or they don’t travel far enough; or they’re just plain ugly. And up until recently a lot of that was based in some truth.

But the landscape is changing at breakneck speed. With the air pollution problem growing worse in our cities and towns, we need alternatives beyond the diesel or petrol cars currently filling our roads. And now, finally, electric cars are becoming that clean, green alternative.

If you do need to stop to recharge the battery, gone are the days when you have to park up and interrupt your journey for hours on end. Most new electric cars can now also use rapid charging points, which can top the battery up to 80% in just 30 minutes. That’s about as much time as you need to take a well-deserved coffee and toilet break.

The government’s Plug-in Car Grant offers up to £5000 off the cost of a new electric car. In the 2017 edition of Which? Car, they recommended 10 electric cars in its city, small and medium car sections, all of which have a price range between £12,000-29,000. And because you don’t need to buy fuel, you can save over £1000 per year.

5. They’re so quiet and smooth

It’s just a completely different driving experience! There’s no loud engine rumbling, no ignition whinnying, just quiet and smooth. If you haven’t test-driven an electric car yet, go and do it!

6. They’re much better for our air

There’s no exhaust pumping out toxic fumes that are harmful to our health and that of our planet. And with responsibly sourced battery materials and charging points powered by renewables, the environmental impact of electric cars is dramatically less than their diesel or petrol equivalents, which contribute to climate change and localised air pollution. Of course to tackle both air pollution and climate change we will also need to drive less altogether and opt for walking or cycling instead. But right now over 60% of trips made in the UK are made by car so for those longer-distance needs, electric cars are the best alternative.

7. And they look nice!
Sure, some electric cars can still look a bit quirky and boxy, but many of the newer ones coming out from brands like BMW, Renault and Nissan, look just like ‘regular’ cars. There’s no reason why electric cars can’t look just as cool and slick as normal ones and with demand, supply will increase, too. So you can look good while looking after the environment, what more could you ask for?!